The entrance to one-way road in North Street (Image: GoogleStreetView)

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A former councillor has been partially successful in appealing against his sentence for driving the wrong way down Guildford's one way system and hitting a car.

John Martin, of St Peter's Close Old Woking, had previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, and failing to stop at an accident.

He was fined £150 for each count and had his licence endorsed with nine points.

The 75-year-old, who used to be a Woking Borough Councillor, said he was not happy with the way he was represented at the sentencing, and was hoping to get a reduction on his fine when he appealed at Guildford Crown Court on Friday (February 6).

Prosecutor Priya Dave, told the court that the incident happened at approximately 12.10pm on April 18 when Mr Martin was driving his Nissan on North Street in Guildford.

"A taxi driver and former policeman saw Mr Martin drive his vehicle the wrong way down North Street towards the junction with Onslow Street," Ms Dave said.

"Mr Martin then proceeded to willfully push through the line of slow moving traffic onto the A281 Onslow Street."

Ms Dave said the driver of the car that Mr Martin hit attempted to alert the appellant of his presence by sounding the horn.

"Mr Martin's response was to shout obscenities and stick his two fingers up," Ms Dave told the court.

She said there was an opportunity for Martin to stop his vehicle going down the wrong way street but he did not, and instead drove into the complainant's vehicle, colliding with the near side front wing mirror and causing damage.

"Mr Martin failed to stop having been involved in that accident," Ms Dave said.

Representing himself at the appeal, Martin said that he was on his way to the Surrey Sports Park via the A3, but as there was total gridlock he thought he would go through Guildford.

He said: "I don't know Guildford that well, all the roads were choc-a-block.

"I have to say, the one way street, not one car was coming towards me or going the other way."

He said when he got to the junction he saw a sign that said 'buses only', and as he thought he was stuck, he made a decision to drive down the wrong way, as he said there were no cars on the road.

He told the court: "When I got to the junction I stopped and no one would let me out, so I edged out slowly - I didn't force my way out.

"I don't remember an accident. I apparently broke someone's wing mirror. If I did that I apologise.

"I was in a situation I couldn't see myself getting out any other way.

"I am asking for a bit of leniency on the fine. I was disappointed at getting nine points after driving 52 years without any problems.

"I'm on £150 a week as a pensioner.

"At the end of the day, the £150 doesn't spread out. It doesn't cover my costs of living each week.

"I was a local councillor in Woking for 50 years and I'm very disappointed that it has come to this stage after serving the public for so long."

Judge Neil Stewart said it was a more serious piece of careless driving than Martin seemed to think, and it was lucky he did not encounter a bus or another large vehicle.

However, he felt that the magistrates should have taken more notice than they appeared to have about his financial circumstances, and reduced the fines by £25 each.

At the end of the hearing, Martin said: "I'm really pleased, thank you."